SC sees 10000 new cases of COVID-19 and 13 new deaths – Charleston Post Courier

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported more than 10,000 new COVID-19 cases and 13 new deaths related to the virus Aug. 14-20.

New cases reported: 10,052

Total cases in S.C.: 1,661,020

New deaths reported: 13

Total deaths in S.C.: 18,245

Percent of ICU beds filled (with COVID-19 and other patients): 62.2 percent

Percent positive: 21.9 percent

In South Carolina, 60.9 percent of people who are eligible for the vaccine have received at least one dose, and 52.8 percent of eligible residents are considered fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

These numbers reflect all eligible residents in the state, including young children. The latest data from DHEC shows 22.5 percent of children ages 5-11 have at least one vaccine dose, and 2.7 percent of those under age 5 had received a dose of vaccine.

Of the 552 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of Aug. 20, 75 were in the ICU and 32 were using ventilators.

"I would say there's never a bad time to get your booster if you're eligible. If you are over the age of 50 and you haven't gotten that second booster, you can still go ahead and get it now." said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on whether people should wait for fall booster.

Reach Tom Corwin at 843-214-6584. Follow him on Twitter at @AUG_SciMed.

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SC sees 10000 new cases of COVID-19 and 13 new deaths - Charleston Post Courier